Current-regulator.



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J. P. ERIE;

CURRENT REGULATUR. n (Appu'mion ma im, 11, 1900.) (In Inkl.) 3 Shoots-Sheet 2.

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No. 673,428. Patented may' 7, mol.

J. P. 5ms. CURRENT REGULATOR.

(Application filed. Sept. 17, 1900.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES PHILIP ERIE, F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE ERIE EX- PLORATION COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE AND DOVER, DELAWARE.

CURRENT-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,428, dated May 7, 190i..

Application filed September 17, 1900. Serial No. 30,346. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES PHILIP ERIE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Current-Regulator, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cu went-regulators, and has for its objects to improve and simplify such devices and adapt them for the purpose more particularly set forth hereinafter; and to these ends my invention consists of a current-regulator embodying the features of construction and arrangement and having the Inode of operation substantially as set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of a regulator embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view showing the preferred arrangement of segments and the means for including a lon ger or shorter segment in the circuit. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in a different Fig. 4 is a partial side view, sectional view, and diagrammatic representation of the circuits, including the regulator; and Fig. 5 is a side view showing a modification.

In the practical utilization of electricity in connection with various translating devices it is common to provide a main or lead circuit carrying a current of constant potential or voltage and to include the translating devices in that lead or main line, so that they will take the current therefrom, and the quantity or amperes of current used will depend upon the character and use made of the translating devices. In connection with various forms of translating devices it is often desirable to utilize less than the normal quan tity of current necessary to energize said translating devices to their full operative condition. For instance, in the use of motors, heaters, or lightsincluded in the circuit, and which under normal conditions require a certain quantity of current to operate the motor at a given speed or power to energize the heater to produce a certain degree of heat or the lamp to produce a certain amount of illumination, a constant dow of current of acertain volume or quantity is required. It is often found desirable to energize such translating devices to a point below the normal or Vor less period of time, so that the current is allowed to flow to thetranslating device at relatively shortninter'vals, which intervals, however, follow each other in rapid succession sufficient to produce the desired effects. Thus, for instance, ordinarily, when a motor, heater, light, or similar translating device is included in the circuit and it is desired to reduce the quantity of the current below the normal, resistance devices are interposed in the circuit of the translating devices and the current continues to flow through the resistance devices and translating devices, while the effect of the current on the translating devices is below that where the whole current iiows directly and continuously through the translating devices. By my regulator instead of introducing resistance in the circuit of the translating device I rapidly cut the translatingk device in and out of circuit, so that the current does not flow through the translating device continuously, but at rapidlyrecurring intervals, and these intervals of flow and stoppage of the current can be regulated and adjusted so as to produce the desired effect in the translating device.

With this general statement of my invention I will now proceed to describe the preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, A represents any suitable base, upon which is mounted an electric motor B, of any suitable construction and having an armature-shaft B', and in this instance mounted upon and insulated from an extension B2 of the armature-shaft B is a ring C, so arranged as to rotate with the armature-shaft. Also mounted on the base by a suitable standard A is an insulatingplate D, which may form a bearing for the extension B2 of the shaft and which snpports and carries a number of segments E E E2 E3 E4. Also supported on the base is IOO lthe segments E and E'.

a carrier F, of insulating material, supportadjacentsegments,so that all ofthe segments ing a number' of connectors G G G2'G2, shown in the present instance in the form of metallic spring-plates secured to the periphery of the carrier F and having arms g g' bearing on the periphery or peripheries of the seg- Any other form of carrier;

ments E to E4. and connector may be used which will accomplish a like purpose, the form shown being simple and cheap of construction and preferred. Also mounted on the carrier is a handle or thumb-piece F' for adjusting the carrier, -and toaid in adjusting the same to i the properfposition there is an index F2, in this instance arranged on the periphery.

Some suitable means must be used for connecting the insulated ring with the segments,

' ber of binding-posts it" 21's t4, and there Vis also provided a switch J, having switch-arms J J 2, connected together by an insulating-link J5 and operated by a handle J 4,and there are also mounted on the base binding-posts a ct', and the parts are suitably connected electrically, as more fully indicated in Fig. 4. Whilein the present instance I have shown inlFAigs. l, 2, and 3 live segments E to E4, any desired number may be utilized, according to the needs'of the particular use of the device, and there of course will be a corresponding number of connectors G. In this instance these partsare so arranged thatin their normal positions (shown in Fig. 2) theconnector G is included directly in the circuit, and its ends or arms g g both bear on the periphery of the segment E. The connector G is similarly arranged, so that its ends are Within the area of segment E', and

bears on the segment E, as shown in dotted lines, so' that the two segments E 'and E are electrically connected or so arranged as to practically make a longer segment, including When the carrier is moved farther, the arm g' of the connector G bears on the segment E2, Awhile the other arm g of said connector bears on thesegment E', and in this way the segments E, E', and E2 are electrically connected together, forming a long segment equivalent to the extent of the segments E'E E2, and so on as the carrier is rotated other segments are electrically conconnectors G G' yG2 also bear upon two of the are electrically forming practically a continuous segment equivalent in length to the sum of the segments E to E4, and the current flowing through the regulator is continuous. Of course when onlyT one segment,"as AE, is electrically connected Ywith, the circuit as the brush or contact H moves over the face of the segments lcurrent iows through the brush vonly during the period of time .occupied in moving the brush over the face of the segment E, and thecircuit is broken while the brush passes over thesegments E' to E4, and vwhen the segments E and E are electrically connected by the connector G and the brush H rotates current Iiows through the brush during the period ,it .is passing over 'said segments E E and the circuit s-broken as the' brush passes over segments E2 to E4. It will thus be seen that by adjusting the carrier and its connectors the circuit can be opened or closed throughout a greater or less portion ofV the time of rotation of the brush or contact H, or, in other Words, a longer or shorter segment may be included inthe circuit, so that the relative periods of flow of current or stoppage of the flow of current can be changed and regulated to suit the wishes of the operator. In this way it will be seen thatV any translating devices connected in the circuit including the brush l-I will be periodically energized by the electric current or denergized, and as these periods are relatively very short the alternate makes and breaks of the circuit lwill lnot be perceptible to the eye in the translating devices, but the effect will be to reduce the energyfsu'pplied to those translating devices, and the motor will rotate with less speed or power, the heater bev less hot, and the lamp give less illumination in accordance with the relative periods of flow or stoppage of the flow of current to the translating devices.

Referring to Fig. 4, one arrangement of circuits is therein shown, which will be understood by those skilled inthe art, but which may be traced as "follows: Starting lfrom the generator X, lthe current flows through the conductor l tothe binding-post z' on the generator, thence by the conductor 2 to the contact j on the switch J, through the arm J 2, by the conductor 3 to the binding-post a', thence by conductor et to the field magnet coils, through the saine to one terminal 'of the armature-coils of the motor, through said coils and by theconductor 5 to the binding-post a, thence by the conductor 6 to thebinding-post nector G, through the'armsg g' of the connector to the segment E, thence to t'h'e brush H, ring C, brush H', conductor 11, binding# post t2, conductor 12, to the translating 'de- IOO lvices T T T2, and thence by the conductor 13 to the terminal of the generator. In this case the translating device T represents a lamp, T' a heater, and T2 a motor, and there are suitable switches t t t2, so that either one or more of the translating devices may be included in the circuit of the generator and regulator. The switch J is simplya convenient means of controlling both the circuits of the motor and of the regulator simultaneously and may or may not be used, according to the particular arrangement of circuits.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modification of my invention wherein the segments rotate, and in this case the extension B2 of the armatureshaft carries a cylinder M, having a series of segments m mfm?, &c.,xof different lengths on its periphery, all of which are connected electrically to the conductor leading from the generator, and there is a brush H3 mounted on a suitable support H4, so that it can be adjusted to bear upon the periphery of any one of the segments m m', duc., and this is electrically connected with a brush H5, which in turn leads' to one terminal of the translating device T4, the other terminal of which is connected to the generator, and it will be seen on the segment of different lengths the period of time when the current will ow tothe translating device T4 and when it will be stopped with relation to the rotation of the drum will be varied.

I-Iaving thus described the general principles of my invention and illustrated means for carrying it out, it will be understood that it is not limited to the precise details of construction and arrangement shown, as these may be varied by those skilled in the art to suit the particular purposes desired. It will bel seen, however, that my current-regulator comprises a series of segments and means for electrically including a longer or shorter segment in the circuit, so that the current through the brush or contact bearing on the segment or segments is caused to pass over their surfaces and will be allowed to flow for a greater or less period of time and the flow be stopped for a greater or less period of time, and these periods are rapidly recurring and follow each other alternately, or the circuit may be arranged so that the current will How continuously to the translating devices.

l. A current-regulator comprising a series of separately-insulated segments, means for electrically including a longer or shorter segment in the circuit, a brush or contact for the segments, and means for moving the brush and segments with relation to each other, substantially as described.

2. A current-regulator comprising a series of segments, means for electrically including more or less of the segments in the circuit, a brush or contact for the segments, and means for rotating the brush and segments with relation to each other, substantially as described.

3. A current-regulator comprising a series of segments, a carrier, a series of connectors moved by the carrier to include more or less of the segments in the circuit, a brush or contact, and means for rotating the brush and segments with relation to each other, substantially as described.

4. A current-regulator comprisinga stationary series of segments, a carrier adjustable with relation thereto, connectors mounted on the carrier for including more or less of the segments in the circuit, a motor, and a brush or contact carried by the motor and bearing on the segments, substantially as described;

5. A current-regulator comprising a stationary series of segments, a carrier adjustable` with relation thereto, connectors mounted on the carrier and adapted to connect one or more of the segments in electric circuit, a motor, an insulated ring mounted on and driven by the motor, a brush mounted on the ring and bearing on the segments, a stationary brush bearing on the ring, and electric connections substantially as shown whereby the motor is rotated and the current through the regulator controlled, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof yI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES PHILIP ERIE.

Witnesses:

H. M. GILLMAN, J r., W. CLARENCE DUVALL. 

